Tokyo Plans Olympic Resurgence

The city of Tokyo has announced that it intends to bid for the 2020 Olympics, as part of Japan’s recovery from the devastating earthquake and tsunami which hit the country in March.

City governor Shintaro Ishihara has been re-elected for a fourth term, with Japan’s recovery from the disaster at the forefront of his campaign.

Ishihara said: ‘Although they [the 2020 Games] are nine years from now, we can start raising our hand’.

‘If we work hard with hope, it will be a big catalyst for our country’s reconstruction and revival’.

Much of Japan’s east coast was devastated by the 9.0-magnitude quake and resulting tsunami waves.

In 2009, Tokyo lost out to Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 Olympics.

Candidates for 2020 must submit their bids to the International Olympic Committee by 1st September this year, with the host city revealed in Buenos Aires in September 2013.

Durban will host the International Olympic Committee’s general assembly in July, followed by a formal invitation from the IOC for bids for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Durban, Berlin, Busan, Doha, Rome and Istanbul have also signalled an interest in bidding to stage the 2020 event.